#weddingplanningtools

At Chancey Charm, we’re huge fans of classic wedding designs with timeless details + elements of your style and personality tied in. One of our favorite ways to make a classic wedding design more personalized is by getting to know our couples and their unique love story. Doing this really allows for the opportunity to create an ambiance that truly reflects a bride and her groom. Chancey Charm’s wedding planners were featured on SheFinds.com sharing tips on accentuating your wedding design with personality, and we thought it would be fun to dive in even further below. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

Photo: Anna Shackleford Photography

6 Easy Ways To Tie Your Personality Into Your Wedding Design

Set the tone with your save the dates and carry it through to your thank you cards. As your printed materials like your save the date and wedding invitation are the first impressions guests will have of your upcoming wedding and reception, start the creative process there! Think about how these items can be a reflection of your shared style as a couple. Brie Owens, Chancey Charm Atlanta Wedding Planner, shares some of her favorite ideas to help get the creative juices flowing: a watercolor map or hand-drawn illustration of the place you met or got engaged, using verses/lyrics/quotes that are meaningful to you and your fiancé, or having a custom family crest or “wedding logo” made featuring your favorite things (even your pets). Don’t forget to tie your design into your ceremony program, escort cards, signage, and thank you cards as well, to bring your vision full circle!

Cheers with a signature cocktail. Chancey Charm Houston Wedding Planner, Skylar Caitlin, recently worked with a couple who wanted a classic wedding design, but with little pops of personality. One of the most popular ways to do so is a signature cocktail! Whether you opt for two “his” and “hers” options or just one signature drink, make it reflect you and your story. And then take it one step further by giving it a meaningful name! They named their two cocktails after their pups, but you could also pick a family member’s name to honor, the name of a city that’s important to you both, or anything else that speaks to your love story!

Get creative with your wedding guest book. Gone are the days where your guest book has to actually be a book! Alana Futcher, Chancey Charm Charlottesville Wedding Planner, loves helping her couples find ways to tie personal aspects into their wedding design. One of her couples loved to surf, so it was only fitting that their guest book was actually a surfboard. Their guests got a kick out of signing it and the couple was so excited to display it in their house as a reminder of their wedding, shared passion, and love. If there’s not an item that necessarily speaks to both you and your fiancé, consider something that can be a piece of artwork for your home like a special print, canvas, painting, map, etc.

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Honoring the love stories of your friends and family members. Jyl Deering, Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner, worked with a couple who asked every married couple coming to their wedding to send them their personal favorite wedding photo. They then showcased all these beautiful wedding photos throughout their cocktail hour. It brought a smile to every guest’s face to see their own wedding photo, and it got people talking to one another and sharing their stories! It was a great way to get guests mingling!

Say thank you in a more personal way. One of Chancey Charm San Diego Wedding Planner Lauren Weidley’s couples thoughtfully had hand written letters to each guest made before the wedding. The envelopes containing the letters served as their place cards! They were gorgeous and hand lettered by a friend of the couple. It was amazing and so personal! It definitely took time to plan and coordinate with RSVPs, but what an incredible and intentional way for each and every guest to feel like a huge part of your day!

Make your menu unique and memorable. Food is another favorite way to add some personality in to your wedding! Talk to your caterer about fusion menus that blend together multiple cultures’ cuisines. Do you have a favorite meal you love to cook or eat together? Share that with them – they might be able to recommend something as a nod to you and your fiancé. Bring in your favorite comfort foods (or snacks) after a night of drinking and dancing, or a fun dessert station like frozen bananas or a churro cart. And don’t forget about foodie favors for your guests! We once had a bride and groom, who along with most of their guests, were both huge coffee lovers. They blended together their favorite types of coffee in custom designed organza bags, creating a signature blend for all their guests to enjoy.

As a couple’s wedding day is the most exciting celebration of their life, many like to keep the party going with a post-reception gathering. If a wedding after party is your style, Chancey Charm was previously featured on SheFinds.com sharing advice for couples planning a wedding after party! They offered tips on looking into closing times at the bar or pub in advance, what might happen if you don’t collect RSVPs for your wedding after party, and how failing to make reservations can backfire. Below, we’re sharing even more wedding after party tips. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

  Photo: Two Sparks Photography

4 Tips for Planning Your Wedding After Party

Location is key (as is transportation): A recommendation from the Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planning team – Be sure to select a spot that is extremely convenient to the wedding reception location or even within the same building if your reception is at a hotel wedding venue. If the after-party location is not within walking distance, and to ensure guests get to and from your after party safely, be sure to arrange for transportation. At this point of the evening, it is likely that a handful of your wedding guests have had at least a couple of drinks. There’s no problem to keep the party going, but if you’re going to do so, it’s smart and considerate of you if you secure safe transportation. Bonus points if you have cab options or hotel suggestions for people who can’t drive home. Tip: But at the same time, don’t host the after party in the bride and groom’s hotel room. It ruins their romantic first night as husband and wife!

Be a good host and offer a late night snack: Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner, Jyl Deering, recommends having food available to help your guests sober up before their drive home. Chances are, they haven’t eaten since dinner, and it could have been four or five hours since they ate. Feed them! Consider having your favor be something guests can take with them to go and eat later. We also love late night snacks as a final way to tie in your personality! Ask your caterer for tips and recommendations. They might be able to package snack boxes as favors to go! Another trend we love – having food trucks at your after party!

Be a considerate neighbor: Hosting the after party at a private home or cabin? Jyl advises couples hosting the after party somewhere with neighbors close by to consider the parking and sound situations. Getting the police called to your after party is very embarrassing. Enough said? Just in case, it’s also smart to let them know ahead of time what your plans are. They’re more likely to be understanding if they know what’s going on in advance so they can plan accordingly.

Use your DJ to help spread the word: Whether your plans are made last minute or you’ve been planning to keep the party going for months, communication is key when planning your after party (especially if guests have had a couple of drinks and need a reminder). If you want to make sure your guests know of your after party plans, be sure that your band or DJ make a couple of announcements throughout the night.

Cheers to dancing the night away celebrating your most special day – safely!

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Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

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As a couple’s wedding day is the most exciting celebration of their life, many like to keep the party going with a post-reception gathering. If a wedding after party is your style, Chancey Charm was previously featured on SheFinds.com sharing advice for couples planning a wedding after party! They offered tips on looking into closing times at the bar or pub in advance, what might happen if you don’t collect RSVPs for your wedding after party, and how failing to make reservations can backfire. Below, we’re sharing even more wedding after party tips. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

  Photo: Two Sparks Photography

4 Tips for Planning Your Wedding After Party

Location is key (as is transportation): A recommendation from the Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planning team – Be sure to select a spot that is extremely convenient to the wedding reception location or even within the same building if your reception is at a hotel wedding venue. If the after-party location is not within walking distance, and to ensure guests get to and from your after party safely, be sure to arrange for transportation. At this point of the evening, it is likely that a handful of your wedding guests have had at least a couple of drinks. There’s no problem to keep the party going, but if you’re going to do so, it’s smart and considerate of you if you secure safe transportation. Bonus points if you have cab options or hotel suggestions for people who can’t drive home. Tip: But at the same time, don’t host the after party in the bride and groom’s hotel room. It ruins their romantic first night as husband and wife!

Be a good host and offer a late night snack: Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner, Jyl Deering, recommends having food available to help your guests sober up before their drive home. Chances are, they haven’t eaten since dinner, and it could have been four or five hours since they ate. Feed them! Consider having your favor be something guests can take with them to go and eat later. We also love late night snacks as a final way to tie in your personality! Ask your caterer for tips and recommendations. They might be able to package snack boxes as favors to go! Another trend we love – having food trucks at your after party!

Be a considerate neighbor: Hosting the after party at a private home or cabin? Jyl advises couples hosting the after party somewhere with neighbors close by to consider the parking and sound situations. Getting the police called to your after party is very embarrassing. Enough said? Just in case, it’s also smart to let them know ahead of time what your plans are. They’re more likely to be understanding if they know what’s going on in advance so they can plan accordingly.

Use your DJ to help spread the word: Whether your plans are made last minute or you’ve been planning to keep the party going for months, communication is key when planning your after party (especially if guests have had a couple of drinks and need a reminder). If you want to make sure your guests know of your after party plans, be sure that your band or DJ make a couple of announcements throughout the night.

Cheers to dancing the night away celebrating your most special day – safely!

PIN THIS POST TO SAVE IT FOR LATER!

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

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We’re huge fans of a wedding day emergency kit, complete will essentials such as safety pins, Tylenol, snacks, mints and other “just in case” items. But don’t forget about the wedding day beauty products you’ll want to have on hand too! The Chancey Charm team is sharing some of their must-have wedding day beauty products to ensure you’re wedding ready all day (and night) long. Cheers, friends!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Photographer: Breanna McKendrick

Must-Have Wedding Day Beauty Products

When it comes to wedding day beauty products, always have lotion, sunscreen and eyelash glue on hand. -Jyl Deering, Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner

Straws! When you have your makeup and lipstick done, you often forget to touch up before the big show and drink from a cup; this results in smudgy lips. Drink from a straw to prevent that! -Brie Owens, Chancey Charm Atlanta Wedding Planner

You never know when Mother Nature will want to surprise you, so prepare accordingly! Also, hairspray. Especially if it’s humid, you’ll want to spray those stray hairs down before any big moments! And definitely face mists – your skin may dry out throughout the day and you won’t want to put moisturizer over your makeup, so a facial mist is the perfect wedding day beauty product to rejuvenate your skin throughout the day. -Alana Futcher, Chancey Charm Washington, DC Wedding Planner

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Oil wipes to touch up after those hot, outdoor ceremonies. Makeup setting spray to make sure your look stays through the whole night not matter how hard you cry though the vows. Deodorant! It’s more than just to keep you from smelling, use it if your shoes are rubbing. The deodorant acts like a barrier and keeps you form getting blisters. -Liz Ise, Chancey Charm Dallas Wedding Planner

Setting spray for your makeup so that it lasts all day. Have your makeup artist leave you a q tip with your lip gloss on it so that you can touch up right before the ceremony! Months before, give yourself a good skincare routine. This can be such a stressful season, and the last thing you want is a pimple showing through on your wedding day! find a great natural face wash, toner, serum and moisturizer to keep your skin fresh and clear all the way up to your I dos. -Sarah Duckworth, Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planner.

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

When planning a summer wedding, there are some important things to keep in mind. For example, beware of clear top tents! While they do give a dreamy view of the stars once the sun goes down, before the sunset, it creates a greenhouse-like effect that heats up the space. Be sure to plan on renting fans and perhaps even misters if you’re in love with the “open air” look. We’re sharing even more summer wedding tips and considerations below. Cheers friends!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?

Photo: Smith House Photography

8 Important Things To Consider When Planning A Summer Wedding

Summer wedding ceremony spots that are not in the shade. Keep in mind your guests will be sitting (or standing) during your ceremony, so even if you and your husband-to-be are under cover, please consider your guests. Offer umbrellas and cold beverages to make them comfortable! 

Be sure that you – and your bridal party – stay hydrated. The summer sun is going to drain your body’s water supply fast. Avoid fatigue, headaches, and heat stroke by making sure you’re downing plenty of water.

Don’t forget about those afternoon showers. Summer is notorious for little pop-up storms that could threaten to rain on your parade. Work with your planner to prepare a rain plan for all outdoor activities so that you and your guests aren’t caught by surprise.

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Choosing a bridesmaid dress color that shows sweat! No bridesmaid wants their sweat to show through their dress. Be cautious of this when picking out a color for your summer wedding. Even if the dress doesn’t have sleeves, sweat stains can still show through!

Holiday weekends and summer travel can really book up your hotels. Make sure you call well in advance to book your hotel blocks so that soccer tournament or Labor Day travelers don’t snatch rooms before your guests can.

If you’re planning an outdoor summer wedding make sure you have some bug spray for guests! If your venue doesn’t already spray for bugs, the mosquitos and other flying pests can really make for an uncomfortable event. Fill your bathroom hospitality baskets with anti-itch medicines and more bug sprays so guests can easily reapply if needed.

Your dream wedding cake may be beautiful buttercream covered perfection but that cake will melt fast if placed outside. Chat with your cake baker about other options like a faux cake for displaying and cutting with the cake for serving cut from sheets in the kitchen or other frosting techniques that mimic the look of buttercream but may outlast the heat better. You don’t want all that money (and deliciousness) to melt away!

Selecting a heavy gown. If you are a summer bride, most likely you are shopping for your dress in the fall or winter prior. Don’t let yourself forget that the temperature on your wedding day will not be nearly the same as it is when you say Yes to the dress! Seriously consider the weight of the gown and if you are up to it, select a gown with a detachable skirt or even consider a second lighter option to change in to for the reception.

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

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Summer is the perfect season for wedding showers! If you’re looking for inspiration for your upcoming summer wedding shower, this post is for you friend! From pool parties to cookouts and festive tropical drinks to shrimp boils, the Chancey Charm wedding planning team is sharing summer wedding shower ideas we’re currently loving below. Cheers!

-The Chancey Charm Team

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

Photo: KVC Photography

4 Summer Wedding Shower Ideas We’re Loving

For a summer wedding shower, I love dreaming up the bride’s favorite things about summer. Does she love a good pool day? Try a glamorous summer wedding shower in a cabana at a rooftop pool with a view of the city. Add fun blow up floats and plenty of umbrella drinks to go around. Does her favorite flower bloom in the summer? Look for a local botanical garden or quirky garden brunch spot. Lots of natural textures and brightly colored bloom will set the scene. –Skylar Caitlin, Chancey Charm Houston Wedding Planner

Incorporate a fun build your own sundae bar. Depending on the time of day, guests could go for a sweet treat and what better way than to have an ice cream bar! –Alana Futcher, Chancey Charm Washington DC Wedding Planner

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There are so many great holidays and events in the summer so capitalize on those! Not only will your guests sometimes have an extra day off, it will be easier to find great decorations. If you love a fancy luncheon, organize a Kentucky Derby themed summer wedding shower with big hats and mint juleps. Head to a lake cabin for a 4th of July weekend “No More Independence” Day bash if you’re more of a laid back bride. –Liz Ise, Chancey Charm Dallas Wedding Planner

Make the menu interesting – instead of light snacks during an afternoon summer wedding shower, utilize the warm summer nights for a delicious Shrimp Boil. Get inside and think outside of the registry. Many couples already have it all – the towels, the dishes, even the matching utensils. Instead of a typical registry, ask the ladies to join you at a DIY studio like ‘AR Workshop’ with locations all around the US. Reserve the workshop for just you and your friends and have each guest purchase a project they are comfortable with that you can later use in your home or better yet, in wedding decor! Shops like this can even customize the lettering stencil to feature your new last name and the final project looks better than something you’d find on Pinterest! –Sarah Duckworth, Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planner

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